Pastor's
Page By
Fr. George Welzbacher July
22, 2007
Three weeks ago, on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June
29th), our new Archbishop Coadjutor, John Nienstedt, was formally
installed in an impressive ceremony at the St. Paul Cathedral.
Archbishop Flynn was the chief celebrant of the Mass, with two
cardinals and some thirty bishops in attendance, together with about
three hundred priests and a large number of deacons. Members of the
laity, both from our own archdiocese and from the Diocese of New Ulm,
filled the Cathedral almost to overflowing. Archbishop Nienstedt gave a
stirring homily in which he declared that any differences between his
own and Archbishop Flynn's personal style were not important but that
what was important was continuity from one administration to the next
in serving the mission of the Church as the Church defines that
mission. Substance is what counts, rather than style.
I thought that you might want to read select passages from
Archbishop Nienstedt's rather lengthy homily. I reprint some of his
salient comments here.

*
*
*
* *

....
Much ink has been spilled in the press over speculation about how this
new coadjutor will differ from the present archbishop. But frankly, I
believe such speculation is misplaced. Leadership in Christ's Church should not be
about our differences in personality or administrative style, but
rather about our commitment to the message and mission of the Lord
Jesus. Are we both in union with Christ and his Church? Are we both
wholeheartedly intent on preaching His Word? Are we both passionately
committed to serving his mission? It seems to me that these
should be the questions every knowledgeable, faith-filled Catholic
ought to be asking.

In 1994, Archbishop John Roach said that any differences
between him and his successor would be "in style rather than
substance." I believe the same will be said about Archbishop Harry
Flynn and myself, that "each in his chosen way gathered into unity the
one family of Christ."....
Seen clearly from all four Gospels, Jesus convoked a
community of disciples around himself to share not only in proclaiming
his message and promoting his mission, but he also called them into
that very intimate and deeply personal union which He himself shares
with the Father: "That they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I
in you, that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you
sent me." (John 17:21) From this perspective, the Fathers of the Second
Vatican Council chose as the two main themes of the Constitution, Lumen Gentium, "communion" and "mission" - which is to say that all
Catholics are called into communion so as
to be sent forth on mission into the
world.

This communio
[communion) is shared in the first place between the bishop and his
priests, with whom the bishop shares the threefold munera [tasks] of preaching the
Word, celebrating the Sacraments and shepherding the faithful according
to the mind of Christ and the teachings of Christ's Body, the Church.
In Pastores Dabo Vobis, the
late beloved Pope John Paul II said that the bishop must be father,
brother and friend to his priests.
This will be a number one priority for me as Archbishop, and in turn I
trust it will likewise be a priority for every member of the
presbyterate. This is far more than a question of personalities or
personal preferences. It is, indeed, a question of faith, a mutual
believing in the providential love of the Lord who leads us. At the
same time, deacons join in our
communio as special
ministers of Word, worship and charity, giving support to us in
grace-filled fraternal bonds.

Bishops, priests and deacons are also challenged to live
their communio more
effectively by the witness of the consecrated men and women who have
vowed to live a communal religious life in poverty, chastity and
obedience. Such
witness from our religious men and women is of enormous benefit for the
whole Church community, but in a very special way for us in diocesan
ministry.

Within this same context, emphasis must be given to lay
ministry within today's Church, both such as the Council called for in
having the laity serve as a
leaven within society as well as [in soliciting ] the participation of
lay ecelesial ministers who share by competence of their training in
the very mission of the Church. This latter category is perhaps one of
the most theologically undefined yet exciting areas being explored in
today's ecclesial context, and I am, indeed, committed to fostering and
clarifying its progress.

The Church cannot afford, however, to stand still until
every eccliesial question is resolved before planning for the future.
Therefore, the ongoing work of encouraging, calling and guiding
young (and not so young) men to the priesthood, young men and women to
the religious life, and young people to lay ministry must remain a
number one priority for every member of the People of God. I am so encouraged by the presence of some
224 seminarians in our two fine seminaries here in St. Paul,
seventy-two of whom are studying for this Archdiocese. I wish to
thank Fr. Tom Wilson, Diocesan Vocation Director, for his strong
leadership in this effort. The day after my announcement, I celebrated
daily Mass for both seminary communities to assure them of my prayerful
support and personal encouragement. I reiterate that promise to them
again today in your presence.

Equal emphasis must be
given in our local Church to building up married couples and their
family life into communions of life, love and truth. Strong,
faith-filled families make for a strong, faith-filled Church.
Dear spouses and parents, your success in witnessing to married love is
essential for the life and vitality of our Church. But, I do believe
that we must redouble our efforts to offer both young people getting
married and adults who are already married the authentic and full experience of the truths
contained in our Catholic faith. To
this end, I promise my support for our Catholic schools, our religious
education programs, our youth and young adult ministry as well as our
adult faith formation. Five years ago I began a prayer group for
high school students seeking a deeper relationship with Christ through
the Scriptures. Some of them are here today, and I ask them to stand to
be acknowledged. Truly, they are my pride and joy!

Last, but not least, the Church as a communio finds at the heart of her
union a place for single Catholics.
Here, in particular, I think of those individuals who have devoted
their lives to a particular service such as my own sister, Mary
Beth, who has provided such selfless devotedness to our parents in
their senior years. I think, too, of
the homebound, the aged, the infirm who provide such a powerful support
through their prayer in the offering of their suffering and pain for
the promotion of the Church.

It was the late beloved Pope John Paul II who reminded us
that, "Communion gives rise to
mission and mission is accomplished in communion." Therefore,
the Church must always be more than a social club of like-minded
believers reinforcing one another. Rather the purpose of our union is
that "the world might know" that Jesus was sent from the Father. This is the true nature of love - not to
turn in on itself but to give love away, even in self-immolation...

As Pope Benedict XVI has said so beautifully
in his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est:

"I cannot possess Christ
just for myself; I can belong to Him only in union with all those who
have become, or who will become, His own. Communion draws me out of
myself towards Him, and thus also towards unity with all Christians
.... Love of God and love of neighbor are now truly united: God
incarnate draws us all to Himself." (no. 14)

Here again we see
the logic of Pope John Paul II's insightful teaching that... "Communion
gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion." These
two provide the back and forth rhythm of the disciple's life. One
without the other lacks true Catholic identity. The Gospel of Truth
demands both the vertical and
the horizontal if it is to be faithful to the Master ......